Post by Site Admin on Feb 11, 2007 8:35:18 GMT -5
INTRODUCTION
These card collecting tips are designed for collectors of all ages but especially for beginners and children. We will mostly cover the basics of collecting as well as a few tips and suggestions. I cannot cover every area of collecting but I hope my knowledge and past experiences provide you with some of the basics needed in this fun and exciting hobby.
Section 1. TYPES OF TRADING CARDS
The largest collectible area of trading cards is probably sports cards, which include but is not limited to baseball cards, basketball cards, football cards, hockey cards, soccer and golf cards.
There are also a number of other categories of trading cards available. For example, "entertainment cards" or "non-sports cards" which include a number of interesting cards of movies, comic book heroes, television shows and historical cards. Other examples of trading cards include car racing and motorcycle cards. The backsides of most trading cards provide information or statistics of individual players or characters. The information included on the backs can sometimes increase your knowledge of the sport or subject that these cards pertain to.
Section 2. STARTING YOUR COLLECTION
People collect trading cards because it is an interesting and fun thing to do. We strongly encourage collectors to have fun while collecting cards, treating it as a hobby first and as an investment second. We recommend this approach to the hobby because too many collectors expect their cards to rapidly rise in value and when the opposite occurs or their value does not increase at all, they become disappointed and frustrated with the hobby itself.
Starting a collection can sometimes be a little confusing at first. You might want to try different approaches when starting a card collection. In section 3 we discuss a few of the different ways to collect cards. Sometimes you might get discouraged if at first your collection seems to be heading in several different directions. Every collector experiences this at one time or another. Eventually you will determine what you want to collect and you you want to collect it.
Section 3. WAYS TO COLLECT CARDS
In this section we will discuss collecting sports cards. The most popular sports cards are baseball cards, basketball cards, football cards and hockey cards. They are all team sports, therefore players are shown on Many collectors enjoy collecting cards of their favorite players or teams. Some collectors will try and collect every card that is made of their favorite player. If you decide to collect cards this way, you'll be surprised at the fun and excitement you will have awaiting new cards of your favorite players, as well as finding older cards that have been almost impossible or difficult to find. You can also collect complete sets of all cards printed by a particular company or all companies. I have had many customers such as parents and grandparents begin a collection for a son, daughter, grandson or grandaughter begining with the year the child is born and purchase a complete set every year thereafter. People usually stay with one brand of cards when collecting in this way.
Many collectors prefer to collect only rookie cards of players, especially collecting rookie cards of players that are early in their careers, hoping that they might someday blossom into superstars and Hall of Famers. I know in section one I stressed that collectors should treat card collecting as a hobby first and as an investment second, but their is nothing quite like buying rookie cards of players at a very low price and watching them rise in value.
Everyone collects different cards in different ways. As you probably understand by now, what to collect and how to collect it, is a very personal choice and it's what makes card collecting so special. Some of you might laugh at this, but I myself like collecting some unusual cards of players. I collect cards showing players blowing bubbles with their bubble gum and players that are pictured looking at their own cards. Also, being from the Boston area and a great admirer of Fenway Park, I collect cards that show the Citgo sign which can be seen behind the famed"Green Monster" left field wall. Try something similar to this using your favorite team or stadium and you'll be amazed at what you'll find and begin to collect. I hope I provided you with some information that will help you with your collecting. MOST OF ALL HAVE FUN!
These card collecting tips are designed for collectors of all ages but especially for beginners and children. We will mostly cover the basics of collecting as well as a few tips and suggestions. I cannot cover every area of collecting but I hope my knowledge and past experiences provide you with some of the basics needed in this fun and exciting hobby.
Section 1. TYPES OF TRADING CARDS
The largest collectible area of trading cards is probably sports cards, which include but is not limited to baseball cards, basketball cards, football cards, hockey cards, soccer and golf cards.
There are also a number of other categories of trading cards available. For example, "entertainment cards" or "non-sports cards" which include a number of interesting cards of movies, comic book heroes, television shows and historical cards. Other examples of trading cards include car racing and motorcycle cards. The backsides of most trading cards provide information or statistics of individual players or characters. The information included on the backs can sometimes increase your knowledge of the sport or subject that these cards pertain to.
Section 2. STARTING YOUR COLLECTION
People collect trading cards because it is an interesting and fun thing to do. We strongly encourage collectors to have fun while collecting cards, treating it as a hobby first and as an investment second. We recommend this approach to the hobby because too many collectors expect their cards to rapidly rise in value and when the opposite occurs or their value does not increase at all, they become disappointed and frustrated with the hobby itself.
Starting a collection can sometimes be a little confusing at first. You might want to try different approaches when starting a card collection. In section 3 we discuss a few of the different ways to collect cards. Sometimes you might get discouraged if at first your collection seems to be heading in several different directions. Every collector experiences this at one time or another. Eventually you will determine what you want to collect and you you want to collect it.
Section 3. WAYS TO COLLECT CARDS
In this section we will discuss collecting sports cards. The most popular sports cards are baseball cards, basketball cards, football cards and hockey cards. They are all team sports, therefore players are shown on Many collectors enjoy collecting cards of their favorite players or teams. Some collectors will try and collect every card that is made of their favorite player. If you decide to collect cards this way, you'll be surprised at the fun and excitement you will have awaiting new cards of your favorite players, as well as finding older cards that have been almost impossible or difficult to find. You can also collect complete sets of all cards printed by a particular company or all companies. I have had many customers such as parents and grandparents begin a collection for a son, daughter, grandson or grandaughter begining with the year the child is born and purchase a complete set every year thereafter. People usually stay with one brand of cards when collecting in this way.
Many collectors prefer to collect only rookie cards of players, especially collecting rookie cards of players that are early in their careers, hoping that they might someday blossom into superstars and Hall of Famers. I know in section one I stressed that collectors should treat card collecting as a hobby first and as an investment second, but their is nothing quite like buying rookie cards of players at a very low price and watching them rise in value.
Everyone collects different cards in different ways. As you probably understand by now, what to collect and how to collect it, is a very personal choice and it's what makes card collecting so special. Some of you might laugh at this, but I myself like collecting some unusual cards of players. I collect cards showing players blowing bubbles with their bubble gum and players that are pictured looking at their own cards. Also, being from the Boston area and a great admirer of Fenway Park, I collect cards that show the Citgo sign which can be seen behind the famed"Green Monster" left field wall. Try something similar to this using your favorite team or stadium and you'll be amazed at what you'll find and begin to collect. I hope I provided you with some information that will help you with your collecting. MOST OF ALL HAVE FUN!